"You played rock, paper, scissors?" The man who started all of this asked
"A very intense game. Yes."
"Nothing else?"
I stare at his wrinkled face wishing I didn't owe him anything but I owed him everything.
"Nothing else was requested of me." I answered
"Did that make him happy?"
"I don't know what makes him happy." I answer coolly.
He stood abrubtly and pounded his fist on the table.
"It's your goddam job to find out!" He shouts.
I flinch. I wasn't sure who I was more scared of the handsome monster in the cage or the older man in front of me. Shifting in my chair I respond.
"I will try harder." I say swallowing any amount of pride I have stored in the recesses of my brain.
"Keep him happy or you will be the saddest person on the face of the earth. I close my eyes pushing away tears tickling the lids.
"You know he won't remember you. There won't be any reason to form any sort of bond with him. We only need you to keep him temporarily satisfied." He says coldly and with a nasty grin. I sit up in my chair.
"Why won't he remember me?" I ask. More than I realize I want him to remember me.
"We wipe his memory clean nearly every day." He says with an easy shrug.
"Oh." I didn't hide the sadness in my voice. If I could've done it over again I would have.
"No need to get attached. You're just temporary."
The words stung.
"Can I go?" I ask.
"Go." He says forcefully. I listen and exit quickly. The pounding in my chest rose to an unsteady level. After rounding the nearest corner I lean against the wall and press my face in my hands suppressing a scream.
After calming myself down I head back to my room. It was nearly as well decorated as the soldiers. Gray cement and at least there was a painting. I would push for a plant or maybe some flowers soon.
I shower and towel dry my hair. I pulled on a pair of blue jean shorts folded at the knee and a plaid long sleeve shirt. The shoes were blue and tan Bobs. The maniacs that provided me clothing donated to a good cause, go figure. There seemed to be a room for everything in this hole I lived in. The cafeteria was a few doors down and there was actually a salon. Nothing fancy of course but it was my duty to report there before my daily visit.
Inside the salon was a petite girl with many tattoos. I believed she too had been "rescued" from a similar life as my own but we didn't say a lot to one another. Simply followed orders. She was around 5" 2' with a tiny frame that made her look like a young girl but she was good at styling hair I'd give her that. She followed orders as the rest of us did. She had already been told how to style my hair. I sit quietly pouting. It was sad to know I'd be seeing him again but he wouldn't recognize me. It would be like groundhog's day every day meeting him. We'd go over the same things. Play the same games. Tell the same stories. Laugh at the same jokes. Though he hardly laughed. I would pull it out of him if it was the last thing I did. His smile though brief was worth losing to the steel arm that we found always won, paper, rock, scissors, it didn't matter he would win with that arm.
Before I knew it the girl was done with my hair and she was in my face applying makeup. She hadn't done much the day before. Today was different. It was caked on. I looked like a different person. He wouldn't recognize me.
"All done." She said.
I looked in the mirror. My blonde hair was style high and to the side with loose curls. My makeup was a heavy smoky eye and red lips. An evening look. Great another dress.
"Thanks." I said and hopped from the chair.
In my dressing room I met Mr. Pierce and one of his assistants. He smiled showing my approval. Pulling a long evening dress from the rack he held it out to me.
"Put this on." He said
I was relieved it was long. I took it from him.
"Change." He said
"Okay." I responded
"Now." He said
I had to hold back my anger. He never took lightly to my rebellion. I handed the dress back to him. He took it with a smile. I unbuttoned the shirt I wore and tossed it in the closest chair. I pulled my shorts off and did the same with those.
"No need for underwear with this dress." He said
My nostrils flared and his face became stern. I pushed the anger back down inside and pulled my bra off. The smiles from him and his assistant made my stomach turn. The panties were next. I stood feeling bare. My hands to my sides, I waited. Ten seconds felt like ten minutes.
"Told you there would be perks to the job." Mr. Pierce said and nudged his associate.
I hated him. If I could scratch his eyes out now I would, buck naked and all. But he would just order him to murder me and it would hurt so badly to be killed by the beautifully broken man that pulled at my heart strings.
"May I please have the dress?" I asked
He chuckled slightly and handed it over. I pulled it on as fast as I could. It was strapless with a thick elastic band running over my breast that held up the top. A triangle strategically placed between each breast didn't leave enough to the imagination. Low on my waist was another band that rested lightly. Even though I was happier with the dress earlier I hadn't noticed the slits on the sides. They ran up to my thigh the complete length of the dress. Mr. Pierce handed over a pair of black heels. While placing them on my feet I spoke to him.
"With all due respect sir, if he didn't like the look last night what makes you think he'll like it today?" I ask
"Moods change my dear." He answered
"What did you feed him Viagra?" My smart mouth always got me in trouble. I made sure to smile as sweetly as I could.
"Now that is an idea." He said and laughed slapping his assistant on the back. They left the room and I followed them rolling my eyes behind them. Butterflies fluttered in my stomach as we neared his room. "We wipe his memory clean nearly every day" Haunted my thoughts and saddened my heart. As we turned the corner closest to him room he was walking in as well followed by two men. Were they protecting him? Or everyone else? As he arrived at the door he cut his eyes to the men behind him who took a step back. He opened and closed the door slamming it behind him. The noise made my heart fall to my stomach.
"Good luck dear." Mr. Pierce said touching my shoulder and shoving me to the door. I sigh. look back at his stupid smirking face and enter the room with him.
"I want to be alone." He screams and turns to face me. His face was full of rage. His face softens when he sees me but his body language doesn't change. He is in full combat gear. He tears the gloves from his hands and throws them on the floor near me. My back pressed to the door I watch as he unzips his jacket and throws it again close to me. He sits on the bed glaring in my direction and takes a boot off. He throws it at the glass that is still cracked and the other hits the wall next to me before I knew he even throws it. It bounces off the wall and hits the ground by my feet. I jump startled by the inanimate boot. My eyes are directed at him again. His hands are on his belt. My heart rate increases. He unbuckles the belt and quickly unzips his pants. He takes them off and again tosses them in my direction. He is left in a black t-shirt and gray boxer briefs. Did they explain to him what I'm here for? Is he willing tonight? Will I actually be his whore this time? Internally my thoughts are berating. Don't kid yourself. You turned in to a whore the minute you signed on with Mr. Pierce.
"You're a little overdressed to do laundry." He says to me.
The shock from his words makes me giggle. With all the things I thought I was going to be doing it wasn't his laundry. I pick his clothes up and knock on the door to be let out. They open it taking the clothes from me and shoving me back in. Words are formed in my open mouth but stops with the click of the lock. I lean my forehead on the door placing my hands to steady the butterflies rocking my body. I hear a slight shuffle of noise and turn to see black socks sliding across the floor in my direction. He is lying on his back arm draped across his forehead.
"Not doing my laundry? What do you want?" he asks
"I'm here to entertain you." I say
His eyes cross sideways and meet mine. He sits up. Interest is written all over his handsome face. His jaw was stern but his eyes were soft. The blue calmed my nerves.
"Can you sing?" He asks
I walk slowly towards him. This seduction thing was not easy. Shaking my head I sit in a chair and cross my legs in front of me. I may have as well been wearing the four inch skirt from the night before. Everything to my thigh shows. The only draping has fallen to the side of my leg.
"Magician?" He asks
I laugh. "No sleeves." I say holding up my arms. He gets the joke but turns his head. He doesn't want me to see the slight upward turn of his lips. I see it. I catch it. I know where to look.
"No instruments either." He says. He's lost interest. His eyes wander the room avoiding mine.
"There's no other way I can entertain you?" I ask sweetly.
"Get out." He says.
There it was again. I failed again. I put my hands in my lap and feel the quiver of my lips. If only he would remember me.
"I asked you to leave." He said
"You told me to leave!" I spit back
"Then leave! I'm going to sleep. How can YOU possibly entertain me while I'm sleeping?" He asks the question but doesn't really expect an answer. He throws his legs back on the bed and turns on his side away from me.
I stand defeated. I failed again. I walk quickly to the door and knock. They pull me out harsh with their hands. Mr. Pierce is there.
"The man has barely seen a woman for 70 years and you can't even get his attention?!" He roars
He grabs my arms slamming me against the observation window. I lose balance and fall to the floor.
"Get up!" He yells
I scramble to stand. He pushed me again. I regain my composure. He grabs me and turns me around to face the window. He is there watching. His eyes are wide. He is shocked by what he sees being done. Mr. Pierce grabs me by the hair and slams my head in to the window. I let out a yelp.
"You are failing me. Don't let it happen again!" He pulls me away from the window and slaps my face so hard I was sure there was going to be a bruise. Tears spill over my cheeks as I meet his eyes. They are wide with concern. Mr. Pierce grabs me and pulls me away from the window as he raises a fist to the window. I am pleading with my eyes for him to remember me.
I am dragged back to my room where my shoulders blades are slammed into the door to my room.
"I'm sorry. I won't fail again." I shout begging for forgiveness.
"You're damn right you won't!" He said
"But if he's happy. Even if it's a silly game that's all that matters right?" I ask "As long as he's happy?"
Mr. Pierce lets go.
"If you think a game is what makes a man happy you're DEAD wrong!" He says it as a threat and walks away.
"Mr. Pierce, what's his name." I ask
He stops walking and turns back impatient with my questioning.
"He doesn't have a name." He says
"But…what do I call him?"
"Soldier, call him Soldier."